Sept 30, 2026
There is plenty happening behind the scenes as we continue working towards bringing Muirneag to life. Our Board and volunteers remain busy pursuing funding opportunities, building relationships with potential supporters and laying the foundations for the next stage of the project.
We currently have several funding applications in the pipeline with charitable foundations and trusts, while actively pursuing opportunities with High Net Worth Individuals and corporate sponsors. We are delighted to have received an £80,000 donation from the Swires Foundation. This generous contribution represents an important step forward and puts us in a strong position to re-engage with the National Lottery Heritage Fund in Q4 to progress our funding discussions.
Alongside these efforts, we are encouraged by the continued growth of our newsletter supporters and the ongoing support for our Crowdfunder campaign. Every contribution and expression of interest helps us maintain momentum as we work towards our fundraising goals. We are hugely grateful to everyone who has supported Muirneag Na Mara so far. If you have contacts who may be interested in supporting the project, whether as a potential sponsor or individual donor, or have ideas for funding opportunities we should explore, we would love to hear from you.
To make supporting the project more accessible, we have introduced a new Donation & Pledge form on our website. The form provides an alternative for those who would prefer to make a direct contribution rather than donate through Crowdfunder. It also offers a way for supporters to pledge future financial support towards the project.
Direct donations help cover the charity's modest ongoing operating costs, while also demonstrating to potential funders that the project is actively progressing towards its overall funding target. This evidence of support is an important part of establishing the foundations needed to move forward.
We also recognise that some supporters may feel more comfortable committing larger sums once there is a clearer line of sight to the project entering the build phase. For this reason, we welcome pledges of future support as well as immediate donations.Pledges allow prospective supporters to express their intention to contribute when the project reaches a stage that gives them greater confidence about its next steps.
Both donations and pledges play a valuable role in helping us demonstrate the support behind Muirneag and continue working towards our fundraising ambitions.
There is still important work to do, and the support of our community, donors and potential sponsors remains vital. Whether you can contribute directly, make a pledge, introduce us to a potential funder or simply help spread the word, your support can make a difference.
Visit our Donation & Pledge page to find out how you can support Muirneag.
May 2, 2026
This month, Muirneag Na Mara has been focusing on expanding our outreach efforts and finding new ways to share the story behind the Muirneag Project with a wider audience. As the project develops, it is important that more people have the opportunity to learn about our vision and understand what we are working towards. To help make this possible, we have developed a series of new informational display boards designed for use in museums, galleries and exhibition spaces.
These displays provide an opportunity to introduce visitors to the Muirneag Project, share our vision and help build awareness of the charity's work. By making these materials available to venues across Scotland, we hope to reach people who may not yet be familiar with the project and give them a chance to discover more about our ambitions.
A large-format version of the display boards will also be exhibited alongside the Muirneag Central Rib at the upcoming Luggerfest Ullapool. This will be a fantastic opportunity for visitors to learn more about the project while seeing an important part of Muirneag's development up close. Combining the exhibition materials with the Central Rib will help bring the story of the project to life and give visitors a tangible connection to the work underway.
We would love to see the Muirneag story shared in more communities and venues. If you know of a local museum, gallery or other space that would be interested in hosting a Muirneag Na Mara display, we would be delighted to hear from you.
We can arrange for the exhibition materials to be provided, making it easier for interested venues to help us share the project with their visitors.
If you have a suggestion for a suitable venue, or would like to discuss hosting a display, please get in touch. Every opportunity to raise awareness helps us connect with more people as we continue working towards our fundraising goals and bringing the Muirneag Project to life.
Feb 27, 2026
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Chris Smith and Sir Andrew Cubie as patrons of the Muirneag Na Mara charity. Both bring valuable experience, insight and networks that will help support the charity as we work towards bringing the Muirneag Project to life.
Chris Smith is a former Royal Navy Regional Commander for Scotland and Northern Ireland, retiring in 2021 after a long naval career.
Sir Andrew Cubie is a Scottish lawyer and public servant, formerly Senior Partner of one of Scotland’s largest law firms and Chair of CBI Scotland.We are hugely grateful to both Chris and Sir Andrew for the time, guidance and support they have already given to the project.
Their experience is helping us establish and grow the charity, strengthen its foundations and shape the wider Muirneag Project as we look towards the future.
As we continue working towards our fundraising goals, their ongoing guidance and the networks they bring will be invaluable in helping us develop the project and build the support needed to make our ambitions a reality.
We look forward to working closely with both patrons as Muirneag Na Mara continues to develop.
You can learn more about both patrons on our website.
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